[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts]

Monday
May 26

Went on picket right down back
of the house with Partridge, Scollay,
and Corporal Wood of Col D.  Built a rail
shanty.  Rainy but we covered it with
rubber blankets so that it kept us dry.

MSS 11293

Fort Albany  May 26/62
7 o’clock PM
Dear Wife
I write to you a few lines
to let you know that it is pay day today.
I have placed the most of my wages in the
hands of the Captain Chandler, who
will forward it, to the Mayor of Lynn
(Peter M Neal.) The amount that I
have deposited with Capt Chandler
is Twenty Three Dollars ($23,00.) which will
probably reach Lynn some time this
week. You can go, or send to Mayor
Neal, and get the same.
Yours in love, Robert
P.S. At Roll Call this evening, Capt. C.
read a letter from the Mayor of Lynn,
in answer to one sent to him from
Capt C, asking him to take charge of
what money might be sent to him
(the Mayor) by the Co. M. The Major

[page 2]
said he would willingly take charge of
what money might be sent to him and
see that it was properly distributed to
those that it belonged to.  The Mayor
also gave us a great compliment for
our orderly, and goo behavour [sic] while we
were in Lynn, he also said he was
advised by some persons, to put on an
extra police, while we were being
enlisted, his answer was, that if
we were Soldiers there would be no
need of an extra police, and if we
were rowdies it would be time enough
for the “Extra” after we had proved our-
selves such, he said he found us the
former, and believed we should prove
ourselves Soldiers, wherever we were
placed, &c, &c.  We then gave three
rousing cheers for Capt C. and three
more for the Mayor of Lynn, and
retired t our tents, and now I’m going
to “turn in” Good night dear ones at home,
Robert

[in top margin of page one]
Three cheers for Mayor

Robert is an unidentified soldier in the 14th Massacusetts Heavy Artillery


MSS 1242

Camp Butler, Ills.
May 26th, 1862

Dear Mother,
I hasten to
write you a few lines
to let you know that
I am well and that
I shall send some money
to the Express Office at
Lanark.  It will be at that
place in a few days.
You will need some
money (one or two dollars)
to get it out of the office
I want you to pay Ranse
Baker two dollars and
a half for that team
and don’t forget to do
so, Pay Uncle Lot[?] 4 dollars
and the remainder
use yourself to the
best advantage.  I saw
Patch at Mt. Carroll  He
said that he had those
Hathaway notes for collec-
tion. You better try not t
o be sued on them, yet
do as you please about
paying them now.
When I got to Mt Carroll
that day I found the
Orderly Seargeant there
to help me.  He and I
took Putnam last
Friday morning.  I was
at Fulton since I left
you and staied two days
I arrived in camp Sat
urday evening at dusk.
All goes well in camp.
We have got our horses

[page 3]
and saddles, I think
that we shall go Southward
soon, and do not
expect to see you again
until the war is over.
I shall send you my
money as I said and
you must make the best
of life’s ills that you
can.  The boys are
having a great time
spending their money
They get rid of it in
all ways that you can
imagine. The news is not
of much importance-
I wrote to Em yesterday and will
write a note to Jane on next
page; so I will close for the
present.  With much love,
I am very truly your affectionate
Son, &c W. H. Redman

Catharine Redman

[page 4]
Dearest Jane,
Your brother
Hank is all-right. It is
just one week this morning
since you and I took the
parting hand, and I am
just as well now as I was
then.  I have good success
in taking Putnam; had to
fix those shots through
the floor, before he would
surrender the Fort
We have him here now
in the guard-house–
awaiting his Court mar
tial Bailey is well again
and the boys are all in
good spirits.   Have received
our pay, horses, Saddles
and so forth. we have
hopes now of leaving
this camp soon.
I want you to remember
me to all inquiring friends
and Jane do the best
you can until I see
you again–Now do write
soon and often I shall
do so. So Good bye—–
Your affectionately  &c.
W. H. Redman
P. J. Redman

William Henry Redman, Captain Co. C of the 12th Cavalry Regiment, Illinois Volunteers


MSS 7415

[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]

I have felt unwell all day bodily & very much depres
-sed in spirits–It is reported here that they are fighting at
Richmond if so Tom must be in the battle & I may any moment
hear he has fallen–I have kept busily employed to divert my
thoughts.  Eliza has taken a good cry at not receiving a letter
from Mr M–Every one suffers more or less from the War.
& every one has to feel sorrow–

MSS 6960

[from the diary of James A. Waddell, former newspaper editor and civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.]

[from the diary of Frank Fitzhugh of Cutshaw’s Battery]

                                  Monday 26
Passed through
Winchester.  Camped
4 miles towards
Harpers Ferry
                        $ 43.48

MSS 4448

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, private and musician in the 23rd Ohio]

Monday, May 26

Saw John Benton
this morning he
is to drive the Forge from
Critchfield Alex & I
went up to the 28 Regt
to have our horns repaired
Remained there until
near noon Saw their
guard mounting well
done they have a band
of 24 members 2 now
sick all Dutch play well
Practiced some this afterno
on. went to the Top of the
mountain very extensive
and grand view
Had parade this evening
orders read Banks has
retreated Received
Letters from Father &
Susan Caldwell
Clear very fine day

MSS 10317

[from the diary of William M. Blackford, former diplomat and bank officer, Lynchburg, Va., with five sons in the Confederate Army]



Monday 26 Laid in bed until after break-
fast & then rose very uncertain whe
ther I could keep up all day–Let
ter from Lanty dated Thursday night
sent 3 miles below Luray. Jackson
& Ewells forces had formed a junction
and were going down towards Front Royal
at 25.000 strong.   In the past 23
days Jackson had marched 20–and his
men were completely knocked up–In the
morning we had a dispatch  that he
captured two regiments of the enemy
at Front Royal and took much bag-
gage–later in the day received official
information  that he took possession of
Winchester yesterday capturing 2000 prison
ers and an immense amount of ordnance
& commissary stores, and that the enemy
were closely pursued.  This indeed is glo
rious & important news. It cannot fail
to operate a diversion in favor of Rich
mond.  The troops at Fredg will be
recalled to defend Washington for
Jackson will threaten it.  The news
had a most refreshing influence upon
the [?] of our people.  It cured me
and I kept all day.   Mary R.
and her little ones came from Mt.
Athos today–to go on Wednesday with
her father to Abingdon Went in the
evening to Charles’ with Mary R & did
not get  home until 10.  There has
been a battle at Lewisburg, in which
Gen Stuart was defeated with small
loss of men and two cannon–owing to
a panic which seized the 45 Va Regt
which ran shamefully–Capt Gayton
Otey was wounded in the shoul
der and reached here last night

MSS 4763 

[from the diary of Jonathan Hager of the 14th U.S. Regulars, as copied and annotated at a later date]

May 26  This morning early we reached “Camp Lovell”
on the Chickahominy  This place was destined
to be the theatre of important events.  We were
here not far from the enemy and all noise
was forbidden.  No drums to be beaten. No
bugles to be blown.  Twenty rounds more of
cartridges were issued to each man, making
sixty in all.  War orders were issued and
everything indicated the immediate ap-
proach of active warfare. There seemed
no appearance of fear, but all were calm &
went about the discharge of their duties as
though it wee a camp of instruction.

MSS 9044